Miami Marlins: Just who Is playoff Michael Jordan for the ‘Fish’?
In honor of the 34th anniversary of his epic 63-point playoff game, just who is Michael Jordan for the Miami Marlins in the postseason?
Just like the fans of every other sports team in America, Miami Marlins fans had no new games to watch Sunday. So, just like fans of every other sports team in America, many Marlins fans were likely glued to their screen Sunday night to watch ESPN’s Michael Jordan docu-series The Last Dance.
The Last Dance, of course, chronicles the final championship of one of the greatest athletes of all-time, Jordan, and the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls. The first two episodes of the ten-part series debuted Sunday, intermixing the first few years of Jordan’s career with the start of that last championship run in ’97.
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Two things jumped out to me while watching this. First off, that Michael Jordan was still playing basketball at an elite level the first time the Miami Marlins danced their own way through the postseason.
Secondly, just how unbelievably dominant Jordan was in Game 2 of his 1986 Eastern Conference Playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Jordan’s SIXTY-THREE POINTS in that game still stand as the NBA record for points in a postseason game.
Which he did exactly thirty-four years ago this Monday.
Naturally, that got me to thinking just who gets to claim that Michael Jordan playoff mantle for the Miami Marlins? Which Fish channeled their inner MJ when it mattered the most?
There are actually a lot of options to choose from. The Marlins, of course, have never lost a playoff series. They have two World Series titles to their name, with both rosters featuring elite talent. And in the case of the 2003 team, that elite talent should ultimately result in two first-ballot Hall of Famers.
One quick sticking point with baseball I wrestled with here was whether to just look at offense, or to consider pitchers as well. Wayne Gretzky’s multiple playoff hat tricks, or Steve Young lobbing six touchdowns in the Super Bowl seem, at first glance, like cleaner comparisons to Jordan’s sixty-three point effort than Alex Fernandez or Carl Pavano locking down the opposition on the mound.
But then I remembered that baseball pitchers are afforded an opportunity to dominate that no other sport provides, so pitchers do make the cut.
So, who is the Miami Marlins version of Michael Jordan? Which Marlin had the single most dominating playoff performance?
Let’s take a look at the contenders.
Honorable Mentions
Let’s be clear: Juan Pierre is not the final answer for the Miami Marlins playoff MVP.
But you can make the case without sounding crazy.
The same is true for many a Miami Marlins player. So before unveiling the answer, let’s take a moment and appreciate some other magical October moments from playoffs past.
First off, Juan Pierre in Game 2 of the 2003 NLDS. Pierre went 4-5 that day for a Marlins team badly needing a win after a Game 1 loss to the San Francisco Giants. That Pierre stole a base should surprise no one. But that he knocked in 3 RBI….that was stunning. The Giants just couldn’t stop him.
In fact, the three wins against the Giants in ’03 produce the top three choices when it comes to hitters. Ivan Rodriguez went 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI in Game 3 and was responsible for every Marlins run.
Miguel Cabrera went 4-5 with 3 RBI, including the game-winner, the next day in Game 4. And for sheer young player showing the world, he’s arrived awesomeness, Miami Marlins fans will never forget the swagger of that home run off of Roger Clemens right after the Rocket brushed him pack with some Hall of Fame chin music in the 2003 World Series.
Gary Sheffield deserves some praise too, for posting a 3 for 5, HR, 5 RBI line in Game 3 of the 1997 World Series. However, that effort did come in a 14-11 laugher that never should have been that close and actually demoralized Bob Costas to watch.
Lastly, the runner up: Livan Hernandez‘s masterful Game 5 performance in the 1997 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves. Livan’s line? How about 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, and 15 Ks. Honestly, that almost took the top spot. But one must remember the world’s most ridiculously generous strike zone was in play that game. Calling Charlie Hough‘s Opening Day first pitch in 1993 a strike was less criminal than half the calls Hernandez benefited from that day.
Just who is that final answer to our Michael Jordan riddle then? Let’s find out.
Josh Beckett – Period.
Okay, so the answer for most dominant Miami Marlins playoff performer was probably pretty predictable. It has to be Josh Beckett.
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And the best explanation for that is the fact picking which 2003 playoff performance of Beckett’s to put up here against Jordan’s sixty-three point barrage was actually the hardest part of this whole exercise. Four of his 2003 postseason starts make the shortlist for all-time Marlins dominance. Two of those easily surpass Livan’s Game 5 gem, and a case exists for arguing for all four of them do so.
But the easy answer is Beckett’s very own Game 5 NLCS performance against the Chicago Cubs.
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Expecting a different answer, weren’t you? Yes, Beckett’s Game 6 effort in the World Series was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen on a baseball diamond. No, I didn’t just pick this because it beautifully matched up with another Chicago sports team. Or, as pointed out above, for the symmetry of Hernandez doing the same thing in the same game of the same round.
It’s not even entirely because Beckett’s Game 5 was a do or die affair. After all, Michael Jordan actually lost that sixty-three point game this whole thing is based on. So winning can’t be the whole story. It does help though. The Marlins could have lost Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS or even Game 6 of the 2003 WS, and still had other chances. Not so when Beckett took the mound down 3-1 and facing seeming certain elimination.
His line that day, back against the wall. Just a mere 9 IP, 2 H, 11 K. That’s right, a complete-game shutout. Three hits and two strikeouts better than his CG shutout in the Series, and without a safety net.
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When it comes to Miami Marlins playoff excellence, maybe no one was ever quite like Mike. But I’m certain no one else was ever close to being like Josh.